Originally Posted by KimPossible

Cash deals getting a better deal is an old school mentality. This isn't they way it works any longer. My rough estimate is that I have helped with the purchase & financing of over 10,000 cars, so I guess I can be considered an "expert" in auto financing/purchasing. Dealerships make money when they do the financing for you. By saying that you are going to purchase the vehicle cash they have the least opportunities to make money on your car deal with backend product so they MUST hold on the front end of your deal (the price). The best way to buy a car right now is to walk in with your own financing in your back pocket (but don't tell the dealer), tell them you have only your trade & no cash. This will make the dealer "load" your trade for more money & reduce the price of their car the most that they can to put the deal together. It helps if you ask questions about the cost of a warranty & gap on the vehicle you are purchasing. These are both great products & I am a fan of both, but the dealer does turn a profit on both of these. Once you walk into F&I to sign your contract, just ask them what the payment is with $5k down or whatever you feel like putting as your down payment. You can also ask them at that time if they can match your own bank financing. If they match the financing from your bank, use the dealership's financing. Those folks only get paid if they make money off you & the banks pay them to bring them financing. If it is the same rate as your own bank, who cares - help them pay their bills. I hope this will help you with your next car buying experience. Keep in mind that dealer's methods are always evolving. Most people are on a 3 year trade cycle, so what worked a few years ago isn't always going to be the best way to buy a car today. You wouldn't surf the web with 3 year old anti virus software & think you are safe because the info is outdated - you need to think of the dealers the same way.